Pubs in Ireland refuse to screen Israel match in protest over Gaza genocide

In Dublin’s Liberties neighbourhood, Peadar Browns pub kept its televisions off for the Republic of Ireland’s Nations League fixture against Israel, part of a deliberate refusal by dozens of venues to screen the match in protest at Israel’s conduct in Gaza. Owner Aidan Brown said he and other operators had committed not to show upcoming Ireland fixtures until the country took a stand, and he was compiling a list that he last counted at 140 pubs and bars at home and abroad. The boycotts mirror a broader public mobilisation. Campaigners including Irish Sport for Palestine and its Stop the Game initiative say the movement has spread widely across Ireland and beyond, with organisers and some pub owners describing the response as grassroots and morally driven. A poll cited in reporting found 76% of Irish football supporters opposed to the match going ahead, and 63% of Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland members voted against playing. Tensions have also surfaced inside the Irish national squad. Reports say the team voted to fulfil the fixture after goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu declined to play; some other players were reportedly uncomfortable and up to eight are said to have voted against taking the field. The dispute intensified scrutiny of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), which in November backed seeking Israel’s suspension from UEFA but in July voted to proceed with the matches — a sequence critics say has fuelled public anger. Critics including club figures and campaigners argue the FAI mishandled the issue by not seriously considering a boycott and missing an opportunity to align with public sentiment. Others point to governing bodies such as FIFA and UEFA, with representatives from the Palestinian Football Association saying consistent application of rules by those organisations would have avoided placing national associations in this position. The Republic of Ireland is due to play a second Nations League game against Israel the following week, keeping the spotlight on how sport will intersect with politics in the coming days.